The Ban

In December 2015, the Communist Party of Ukraine (CPU) was outlawed. The ban has been condemned around the world. Amnesty International called it 'a flagrant violation of freedom of expression and association' which should be immediately overturned.

In the 2012 elections, the CPU won 2.6 million votes (14% of the poll) and 32 MPs. But after the US, EU and fascist-backed coup against Ukraine's elected President in February 2014, the CPU and its MPs and offices have been violently attacked. Party activists have been murdered by fascist gangs.

Truth and lies

After a previous ban was lifted in 1993, the Communist Party of Ukraine was a legal, constitutional party with up to 100,000 members.

For more than two decades, it called for a parliamentary republic, an end to corrupt presidential rule, a federal Ukraine embracing Crimea and the eastern provinces, and equal civil and language rights for all.

But Ukrainian judges and right-wing politicians claim that the CPU supports terrorism and the break up of the country. No evidence has been produced.

'De-communisation'

Ukraine's De-Communisation Law of April 2015 made it a criminal offence to display left-wing symbols, promote Marxist ideas or defend Ukraine's past membership of the Soviet Union. Criticising Ukrainian 'nationalist' collaborators with the Nazi war-time occupation, who carried out genocide against Jews and Poles, is now an offence punishable by 5 to 10 years in prison.

The Law bans Soviet-era names and statues, so 987 cities, towns and villages; 51,493 streets as well as many parks and public places have been renamed - often against local opposition.

Ukraine today

President Poroshenko is a billionaire who made his fortune from the privatisation of industry after the end of Communist rule. His right-wing government rigged the last elections and seeks to join the EU and NATO.

Democracy is being closed down. Fascists have massacred trade union supporters in Odessa and Mariupol. Neo-Nazi battalions are fighting alongside regular forces in a war against 'People's Republics' in the east.

The Communist Party of the Ukraine alone stands for social ownership of the economy, democratic rights, unity, anti-fascism and peace - that's why it has been the first target of the extreme right!

What you can do

Protest to the Ambassador, Embassy of Ukraine, 60 Holland Park, London W11 3SJ email:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Ask your MP to protest to the Britain's Foreign Office and the Ukrainian government about the ban on the CPU.

Raise the CPU ban in your trade union and political organisations and propose motions of protest to the Foreign Office and Ukraine Embassy.